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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to feel school will be ‘put out’ about a private maths tutor?

39 replies

RockYourSocksOff · 26/09/2018 20:28

Or is it just me?

Decided to use a tutor for one subject for Ds. He attends a state secondary school. Felt the need to keep this to ourselves.

Can I ask anyone who teaches how this is usually received?

I don’t want my dc teacher of this subject to think we’re not happy with the teaching, I just feel like we need to fill some of the gaps.

Dc is in Y7 and passed their SATs but only just in one subject.

OP posts:
RowenaDedalus · 26/09/2018 20:29

This wouldn’t bother me at all! I would think it was very proactive.

GreenTulips · 26/09/2018 20:30

A lot of teachers are also tutors

Nobody would bat an eyelid at a music tutor or speech and language tutor - so why worry about maths or English or science

Original poster
RockYourSocksOff · 26/09/2018 20:32

Thank you.

I think it’s me just being silly and maybe a bit proud Hmm

OP posts:
Blankiefan · 26/09/2018 20:32

One thing to be aware of is comms between the tutor and the school. Our school has a policy that it won't be in contact with tutors as it's like having another set of parents per child to update / liaise. So - you'd need to be prepared to go- between.

Wolfiefan · 26/09/2018 20:33

Honestly I think I would want the teacher to know. They may even be prepared to pass evidence of weaknesses on or share some basic info with the tutor. It’s not a sign you don’t trust their teaching. It’s a sign you value their subject and want your child to do as well as possible.

Justgivemesomepeace · 26/09/2018 20:33

My daughter has a science and English tutor. It never crossed my mind to consider how her teachers would feel about it.

SleepyMcEdie · 26/09/2018 20:34

I’m a maths teacher and always recommend to my students to have a tutor! Having someone who can explain things 1:1 is very beneficial.

theworldistoosmall · 26/09/2018 20:34

Shouldn't bat an eyelid. Lots of school children have tutors for core subjects.

cloudtree · 26/09/2018 20:34

half the kids in the school will have tutors.

HardofCleaning · 26/09/2018 20:35

I think it's very unusual for it to be interpreted as a criticism of the teacher. You're getting 1-1 help for your DS. Obviously the teacher would never have the time to provide this to all students.

hibbledibble · 26/09/2018 20:35

Why would the teacher even know about the tutor? Surely it's a private arrangement between your family and the tutor

LucyMorningStar · 26/09/2018 20:35

Trust me, teachers are waaaay too busy to care about that Grin

PurpleDaisies · 26/09/2018 20:36

I’ve been on both sides. There shouldn’t be any issue. The teacher’s results will get boosted-nothing to moan about!

TheFifthKey · 26/09/2018 20:37

Teachers won’t care except if they get cheeky requests from the tutor for all sorts of information that quite honestly the tutor is being paid to find out! Eg about exam specs, past papers and so on. We don’t have time to do someone else’s job for them.

agnurse · 26/09/2018 20:37

I don't think it would be an issue.

Obviously it's school-sponsored, but the college where I teach has peer tutoring and writing support available through the library. I would NEVER feel inadequate as an instructor if a student went to the library for help! In fact, I have suggested that some of my students might benefit from seeing the library writing tutors for help with citations, for example.

Everyone learns differently. A teacher has to teach to a broad group of children and often doesn't have the time or ability to give each child significant one-on-one attention. This is where a tutor can help to fill the gap.

HildaZelda · 26/09/2018 20:37

Why would the teacher even need to know?

PurpleDaisies · 26/09/2018 20:39

When I worked in secondary, I liked to know if any of my kids have tutors. I could give them lists of stuff that they should cover.

Athena51 · 26/09/2018 20:39

My DS is a maths teacher, he also tutors and most of the kids he's tutored have been in the state sector. No big thing to get help if help is needed.

Topseyt · 26/09/2018 20:40

I can't see that it would be an issue at all.

My DD3 did her GCSEs this summer and many of her class had had tutors for maths.

MsAwesomeDragon · 26/09/2018 20:40

I've always said to my students that everybody could benefit from a tutor but whether that benefit is worth the money needs to be a family decision.

I also tell them that one hour a week with a tutor is as well as, not instead of the 3 hours a week they spend in my classroom. Some pupils seem to think that because they've got a tutor that means they can mess about in lessons because the tutor will go over it with them later. Obviously not all of them have that attitude, but enough of them for me to notice it.

Original poster
RockYourSocksOff · 26/09/2018 20:41

I know, it’s me. I don’t know why I feel this way. Maybe it’s an old fashioned view, maybe I just care too much about what people think.

Thanks for your views, good to know it won’t be taken dimly.

OP posts:
Original poster
RockYourSocksOff · 26/09/2018 20:44

Hilda, without giving too much away, it’s quite a small community where teachers and tutors tend to know eachother.

OP posts:
Tunnocks34 · 26/09/2018 20:48

I like it when students get math tutors. I normally provide the scheme of work we’re following in lesson, so that the tutor can teach along side it.

Bobbysausages · 26/09/2018 20:49

I don't even think twice about it when I hear a kid has a tutor.

Tunnocks34 · 26/09/2018 20:49

I also tutor external to the school I teach in x

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